Last Updated on July 12, 2023, 6:51 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The government of St Kitts and Nevis is gearing up to host the official opening of the Ministry of Creative Economy on July 28, 2023. Almost two weeks in advance, the Department of the creative economy members, headed by the minister, Samal Duggins, came together for a press conference where they detailed the significance of the newly minted ministry.
Valencia, permanent secretary for the Ministry of Sports and the Creative Economy, attended the press conference alongside Robertine Webb, director of the Creative Economy, Mister Pierre Leiberd, director of culture within the Department of Creative Economy, Keisha Isaac Adams, the assistant secretary within the Department of Creative Economy opened the press conference with her remarks.
The opening remarks by Keisha Isaac Adams clarified that the press conference will serve as a platform where the people will get a glimpse into the commencement of the Creative Economy Campaign in preparation for the launch on July 28, 2023.
The press conference will feature the start of the transformation process for Creative Arts and Innovation into becoming a formalized, recognized, and important industry within the federation. She stated that the trail was about to be blazed with new and exciting initiatives.
Keisha Isaac Adams stated there is a shift in the cultural mindset from creatives having hobbies to creatives being recognized by businesses as businessmen and businesswomen. Many of the activities under the Creative Economy have strong cultural roots, and the term cultural industries can be said to describe theatre, dance, music, film, visual arts, and the heritage sector.
The assistant secretary within the Department of Creative Economy stated that the Creative Economy is an evolving concept which builds on the interplay between human creativity, ideas, intellectual property, knowledge, and technology. It is based on the contribution and potential of creative assets to economic growth and development.
The creative industries are among the most dynamic sectors in the world. In the world economy, providing new opportunities for developing countries to leapfrog into emerging high-growth areas of the world economy. The Minister of Creative Economy, Samal Duggins, also delivered some significant remarks.
The institution was developed in August 2022 and given under the leadership of Minister Samal Duggins, by the merging of what once was the Saint Kitts Department of Culture and the Department of Entertainment and Talent Development.
Minister Samal Duggins expressed that he was delighted because last year when we started the concept of what this was to be, it was really envisioning how do we move our creative sector forward and ensure that our people especially our creative sector could benefit from their creativity and their art.
He noted that they recognize that’s a challenging feat, simply because it’s a cultural problem where people see the creative sector as just a hobbyist sector. Minister Duggins stated that he wanted something that changed the mindset of the people. Accordingly, the term Creative Economy makes you understand that we are considering the economic value of our act.
Minister Samal Duggins stated that instituting a director was one of the most special things that happened in the creative economy with a clear vision and understanding of where we wanted to go. All the sets to take us there and I want to give the director a round of applause. When our current director was installed, there was much criticism because of her age.
I don’t think people stop sometimes to dig a little deeper and recognize that age and qualification don’t always go together. Because of her age, she is super qualified for the position and as the youngest director in the civil service. Minister Samal Duggins stated that I think she has done a hell of a job in putting us where we are today.
We are about to start. We spend a few months really putting the foundation together. And I’ve received several questions about what the Creative Economy is about. What will it be doing? Where are we going? And sometimes, I’ve been very reserved in my answers. But as of today it’s time to let them loose.
Minister Samal Duggins added that as they say, it’s time to bang your mouth now. And so I’m happy. But before I bang my mouth on going forward, I want to just reflect on some of the things we’ve done over the last year. Because, again, there are some things we cannot let go unnoticed.
Minister Samal Duggins stated that when we came in last year in the month of September. And then right after that, we faced the daunting task of planning a national Carnival. Only two months before December 2, the actual date proposed to launch. And so we had to put together a carnival in two months. One could imagine that was a feed in and of itself. But I’m happy to know that that carnival was a huge success.
Minister of the creative Economy et al, Samal Duggins, reflected on the tremendous success of the creative economy ministry. He stated that when we look at the participation on the road for parade day, one of the largest ever recorded.
When we look at the participation on the road for J’Ouvert, it was also one of the largest ever recorded. When we look at the turnover shows like talented teens, one of the largest turnouts ever recorded, when we look at even the number of vendors placed out so that they can make a livelihood.
Again, it was one of the largest amounts ever recorded and we could go through a long list of actual successes. But overall, I just want to thank the chairperson and National Carnival committee for putting on a splendid carnival, Sugar Mass 51. The Ministry of Creative economy, under the leadership of Minister Samal Duggins will officially launch in a significant ceremony on July 28.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
